The Bynars vs The Borg: A Comprehensive Comparison of Star Trek's Cyborg Aliens

Summary

The Bynars are a unique Star Trek species introduced in TNG season

The Bynars, who have no gender, communicate as a united duo using their own rapid and high-pitched language. Due to their close association with technology, they are entrusted by Starfleet to enhance ships. Their ability to process information swiftly heavily depends on their cybernetic implants.

Unlike the Borg, the Bynars prioritize their own survival and maintain personal autonomy, possessing emotions and individuality that separate them from the drone-like Borg. Star Trek, over its nearly 60-year history, has introduced numerous alien species, among which are the Bynars. However, these intriguing beings have made only a handful of appearances thus far. first introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 1, episode 15, entitled "11001001," the Bynars have received minimal attention from the franchise since their initial debut. While TNG eventually established itself as one of the greatest science fiction television series, its first season struggled to find its footing, resulting in various concepts and alien species being introduced but never revisited, including the enigmatic Bynars, small purple aliens.

The Bynars were mentioned in passing during a conversation in Star Trek: Enterprise, but have not made any on-screen appearances since then. In season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, the Bynars return as victims of a mysterious antagonist that has been targeting ships outside the Federation. Episode 7 of Lower Decks season 4, titled "A Few Badgeys More," grants viewers their first look inside a Bynar vessel, offering a brief glimpse into their unique way of life. In episode 9, "The Inner Fight," of the same season, two Bynars find themselves stranded alongside the Lower Deckers on Sherbal V, the very planet where the enigmatic adversary left them.

Who Are The Bynars In Star Trek: TNG & Lower Decks?

The Bynars, featured in TNG season 1, are an exceptional species within the Star Trek universe. Not conforming to traditional gender distinctions, they exist without a specific male or female identity. Operating exclusively in pairs, they communicate in synchrony, often finishing each other's sentences using their own complex alien tongues. Their language, characterized by its rapid high-pitched sounds, remains indecipherable to humans and possesses a remarkable resemblance to binary code. The Bynars exhibit a distinctive relationship with technology, relying on it for their survival. In recognition of their computer expertise, Starfleet enlisted the Bynars in the 24th century to enhance their starships.

Each Bynar pair remains interconnected with the master computer on their native planet of Bynaus, which grants them exceptional information processing capabilities. In the episode "11001001," an electromagnetic pulse disrupts Bynaus, compelling the Bynars to transfer their data to the computer onboard the USS Enterprise until the pulse subsides. Due to their binary mindset, the Bynars hijack the Enterprise to carry out this task, unwilling to risk Starfleet's potential refusal. In an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) divulges that the Bynars undergo a replacement of their parietal lobes with synaptic processors during infancy, integrating them with a cybernetic element akin to that of the Borg.

What Makes The Bynars Different From The Borg

Unlike the malevolent Borg, the Bynars do not function as a single collective entity, although they do exist in pairs. While little is known about Bynar culture, there is no evidence of them being subservient to a queen or all-powerful ruler. Except for Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco) and his unique group of Borg drones, the Borg lack the ability for independent thought. Their sole purpose is to assimilate other lifeforms into their collective, devoid of any instinct for individual survival. Conversely, the Bynars exhibit a clear concern for their own survival, both as pairs and as a species, much like any humanoid species.

The Bynars endanger their lives to save their people by commandeering the Enterprise in TNG, and in Star Trek: Lower Decks, they appear perplexed and anguished when confronting a mysterious adversary that ultimately destroys their ship. While the Bynars exhibit greater logic and composure compared to humans, they still possess a wider range of emotions than the Borg. Despite their strong affinity for technology, they maintain personal autonomy and control, with their cybernetic implants serving as a means to enhance knowledge and store information rather than assimilate their minds into a collective. The Bynars continue to be an enigmatic species within the Star Trek universe, but their relationship with technology stands in stark contrast to that of the Borg.